Counselors visit school after 5th-grader's death

March 27, 1994|By Mike Farabaugh | Mike Farabaugh,Sun Staff Writer

In the wake of the death of a 10-year-old North Harford Elementary School student, the county public schools' crisis intervention team was in Pylesville Friday morning to counsel students, school authorities said.

Crystal Chantelle Lamar, a fifth-grader, was fatally injured Thursday evening when she apparently rode her bicycle into the path of a car on Graceton Road near her home on Wheeler School Road in Pylesville at 5:30 p.m., state police said.

The injured girl was flown to the Johns Hopkins Hospital pediatric unit in Baltimore where she died at 8 p.m., a hospital spokeswoman said.

State police said the child apparently rode down a driveway and into Graceton Road, where she was struck by a southbound vehicle driven by Mary Marie Seymour, 71, of Old Pylesville Road in Cardiff.

An investigation is continuing, state police said.

Donald R. Morrison, a spokesman for the school system, said the crisis intervention team was dispatched by the Board of Education's Central Office at the request of Mary L. Welsh, principal at the elementary school.

The team is headed by Stephen C. Lentowski, supervisor of psychology and pupil personnel services, said Mr. Morrison.

"They will be there as long as they are needed, talking to small groups, helping relieve the stress and emotional trauma experienced after tragedies like this," he said.

Mrs. Welsh also drafted a letter to be sent home with each fifth-grader, Mr. Morrison said.

The purpose of the letter is to let parents know what the school knows about the accident, that the crisis intervention team was on hand to help and to tell parents to be watching their children for signs of emotional stress or trauma.

"The letter provided hints on what to look for and where to get help, if necessary," Mr. Morrison said.